Artificial leg.



E. vw. BABCOCK. ARTiFIClAL LEG.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 31.1917.

1,259,588. Patented Mr.19,1918. l

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

USHHWHBCOCK E. W, BABCOCK.

MisCIAL LEG.

APmcATloN man Anaal, ses?.

Patented Mas. 19, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- 514 u@ nto/c EUSHH WHECOCK nLIsHA WILLIAM BABcocK, or LoIteIN, OHIO, Assisnoa or onu-HALF To JOHN E. KITCHEN, or LORAIN, oIIIo.

ARTIFICIAL LEG.

Application filed August 31, 1917.

To all 1r/oni t may Conce/m;

Be it known that I, ELIsim W. BABcooIi, a'citizen of the United States, residing at Lorain, in the county of Lorain and State of Ohio, have intent-,ed certain new and useful Improvements in Articial Legs, of which the followingl is a specification.

This invention relates to artificial limbs of the character shown in my 1atent No. 1,232,173, and has for its object to sin'iplify and improve the construction shown in such patent.

lilith the foregoing objects in view that will more fully appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts illustrated in the drawings and more particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of an articial limb embodying my improvements Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an edge view of the upper foot plate;

Fig. Ll is a similar view of the toe clip; y Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the heel cushion;

Fig. 6 is a similar view of the heel cushion; and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view illustrating the operation of the invention.

Referring to the drawings for a more particular description of the invention and which drawings are for illustrative purposes only, and are therefore not drawn to scale, 1 designates the stump socket which is preferably formed of wood and the lower portion 2 of which forms the instep of the foot. Secured to the bottom of the instep 2 is a foot plate 3 which is held in place by a. series of two or more rivets 4 which extend preferably at an angle through the upper foot member or instep 2 with their upper and lower ends countersunk in the latter and the foot plate 3, respectively. The foot plate 3 aforesaid is also secured in place by the vertical bolt 5, which passes upwardly through corresponding openings in the rear end of said foot plate and the heel portion of the foot member 2 with its upper threaded end 6 projecting into the socket 7 of the stump 1. A washer 8 is arranged on the upper threaded end of the bolt 5 against Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 19, i918.

Serial No. 189,118.

the bottom wall 9 of the socket 7 and provides a bearing for the lock nut 10, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

lhe numeral 11 represents the sole niember which is formed at its rear end with a heel portion 12 and is provided at its front end with an upturned tubular portion or sleeve 13 which, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, is of less length than the width of the sole, thereby leaving the side spaces 14. The device further comprises a flat toe clip 15 which is provided at its rear end and opposite side edges with the upturned eyes 16 which register with corresponding eyes 17 formed at the front end of the foot plate 3 through which eyes, and the tubular portion 13 of the sole member 11, passes the connecting pin 18.

A toe piece 19 is secured to and upon the toe clip 15 by the vertical rivets 20 or other equivalent means. It will be observed by reference more particularly to Figs. 1 and 5 of the drawings, that the toe piece 19, which is formed of rubber or other material possessing the desired resiliency, is formed with a recess 21 to receive the eyes 16 and 17, and the tubular portion or sleeve 13 of the sole member 11. The eyes 17 of the foot plate are provided with the outwardly curved extensions or fingers which fit and work against the upper rear wall or edge 23 of the toe piece 19, the purpose of which will be hereinafter set forth. A heel cushion 24 is arranged in the heel portion 12 of the sole member' 11 upon the top of which rests and worl s the rear end of the foot plate 3. The upper inner edge of the heel cushion 2Liis provided with a recess 25 to accommodate the head 26 of the bolt 5. The rear wall 27 of the heel portion 12 of the sole member 11 is provided with a vertical slot 23 which receives a lug 29 formed on the rear end of the foot plate 3, whereby the vertical or up and down movement of the foot plate is held within predetermined limits.

By providing a toe piece 19 and a heel cushion 2&1, I am able to dispense with the springs shown in my patent issued July 13` 1917, No. 1,232,173. It will also be observed that the toe piece provides the desired resiliency' or elasticity at the toe of the foot while the heel cushion 24 provides the desired spring or cushioning effect at the heel, when Walking. This construction is not only more dependable and economical in construction, but greatly simplifies the invention and renders it Vof more utility through the opportunity thereby aiorded to dispense with a number of the parts.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the drawings, it is thought that the construction, operation and advantages of this invention will be readily understood Without requiring a more extended ex- Y planation.

Various changes in the form, proportions and minor details of construction may be resorted to Without departing from the prineiples or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention as dened in the appended Claim.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

An artieial limb comprising a stump socket, the lower portion of which forms the instep of the foot, an upper foot plate sef cured to the bottom of the instep and provided at its front end with a pair of upturned eyes formed With vertically disposed lugs or fingers, a sole member disposed be neath said upper foot plate and provided at its front end With an upturned tubular portion or sleeve registering with said eyes, a

toe clip having eyes registering With those of the upper foot plate, a cross pin passing through the eyes of the toe clip and the upper `foot plate and the tubular portion or sleeve of the sole member for hingedly connecting the aforesaid parts together, a solid resilient toe member secured to thetoe clip With its upper inner Wall or edge Working against the lugs or fingers of the upper foot plate, and a solid heel cushion arranged in the sole memberand providing a resilient support for the heel portion of the upper foot plate, and means for limiting the vertical or up-and-dovvn movement of said foot plate.

In testimony whereof I aiiX my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

ELISHA WILLIAM BABCOCK. Witnesses:

F. J. STACK, II. F. GRUBB.

Copies of this patent may be vobtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

